“And the war has been stopped.” Cassius cut her off. “And not by your hand.”
His words landed, shoving straight into her gut. “Shut. Up.”
Cassius smiled, a thing of deadly cruelty. “You knew this was the solution that could have saved us years of chaos. To reforge the peace between our realms and extend our hand to offer water in exchange for ore. Yet you chose to ignore it, just as your mother did. You knew the ore wouldn’t last forever, and your mother did too. She was a fool and now is doing anything she can to cover up her mistake—to ensure that her reign continues unfettered. It’s a good thing I havepower, because I did what you have spent years trying and failing to do.”
“Shut thefuckup.”
Cassius tilted his head, every memory of the man he once was covered by this new creature. “I don’t mean it as an insult. You’ve done well navigating your duties to the crown. But I know you wished to do more. Overseeing the towns, trying to be the voice of reason in your mother’s court when it came to rationing out ore. But your work could only go so far.”
Thalia hadn’t realized she’d crossed the space until she hovered over Cassius, her hand gripping the handle of the knife in his belt. “Stop talking before I carve out your tongue and feed it to you.”
Cassius smirked, his blue eyes lighting in what must be some sort of sick fascination. “How your rage has grown.”
Thalia slid the dagger from his belt, and he did nothing, just watched as Thalia braced one hand on the back of the couch, leaning closer. “I have you to thank for that.”
“And how has that worked out for you?”
Thalia pressed her dagger straight over Cassius’s artery. If he moved a fraction of an inch, she’d slice his neck clean open. “Considering the position we’re now in, I’d say it’s worked.”
Cassius’s eyes bored into hers. But he didn’t move, didn’t try to disarm her. Didn’t so much as flinch as she pressed deeper and a ruby droplet welled. She watched in fascination as it slid down the strong column of his throat, collecting in the crevice of his collarbone.
“If you’re going to do it, at least do it right this time.” Cassius’s words brushed against her mouth.
She flicked her eyes up, finding his heavy, hooded gaze right on her lips.
It shouldn’t have shocked her so much, but it did.
Thalia smirked, leaning closer. Close enough to count the flecks of gray in his irises. “Not yet. We have a ceremony to get to.”
Cassius was a dark presence at her side as they both made their way to the castle chapel, Reina at their backs.
The chapel itself was removed from the rest of the palace, hidden in the inner courtyard among overgrown gardens. The stones had been worn away by the elements, and the stained glass appeared lackluster in the moonlight. The pointed columns and Gothic architecture only added to the eeriness as the three of them stepped up to the wooden door.
Thalia glanced up at one of the gargoyles crouching above the entrance, its pointed teeth and forked tongue twisting into a grotesque smile. Thalia kept her back straight as they entered.
The space was lit with braziers flickering over the pews, and the church was empty save at the front where the queen, Kamith, and two of the Vampyrs stood waiting.
“Princess.” Kamith spotted her first, inclining his head.
Lord Damien swept his red eyes over Thalia. The other Vampyr, the one with golden eyes and dark skin, remained quiet as Lord Damien said, “Shall we begin the ceremony?”
A hesitant priest stepped forward, stammering, “Wh-where is the proxy?” He glanced at the three creatures in the church. Right, because the prince wasn’t here. It wasn’t as though Thalia had expected the prince to show up, given the animosity between their realms and the fact that peace had barely been achieved. He was probably content to sit in whatever dark castle he called home, draining the blood of innocent humans. The thought did little to quell her nerves.
Lord Damien stepped forward, and Thalia’s stomach dropped. Oh gods, if she had to bind herself to him, out of all the Vampyrs—
“Cassius, the hand to the prince, shall stand in.” The Vampyr’s words echoed.
Cassius stepped into a shaft of moonlight. He glanced at Thalia, his face unreadable as he held out a hand.
Thalia had lied to herself. She would have taken Lord Damien overhim. Because she would have to … to touch him.
They hadn’t touched in her room; only his knife in her hand had caressed his skin. The thought of doing this—of binding herself to him after everything he’d done to her, all the false promises and lies he’d fed her just so he could turn them against her—
“Thalia.” Her mother’s sharp voice broke through her racing thoughts. The queen gave her a look, and Thalia swallowed. Pushing aside her rage and revulsion, she placed her hand in Cassius’s.
Thalia couldn’t ignore the shiver that rocked her spine as his calluses scraped against hers. The weight of her fingers in his was as familiar as the calluses along her palms.
“We—we are gathered here to witness the joining of two peoples,” the priest began, his quiet, shaking voice filling the church. “This union shall be binding, by blood and earth. Two souls which shall never be parted.”
